Severe Tropical Storm Kai-Tak Afternoon Update August 16, 2012

Here is our latest Video Update on Severe Tropical Storm Kai-Tak (Formerly Bagyong Helen). The system has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility and is moving across the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea. Kai-Tak is forecast by JMA to become a typhoon later tonight and could make landfall along the Leizhou Peninsula in the Southwestern part of Guangdong Province as early as tomorrow.

Kai-Tak continues to intensify and is actually upgraded to a typhoon by HKO, CMA, and JTWC. JMA is also expecting Kai-Tak to become a typhoon later tonight. It is forecast to make landfall near the city of Zhanjiang early tomorrow (Friday) as a strong Category 1 typhoon. Please visit CMA and HKO for the latest updates and warnings on this storm.

Kai-Tak made landfall yesterday near Cagayan/Isabela and exited from Ilocos Norte. Unfortunately, the system left 7 people dead and 2 more people are missing. Provinces along the Cordilleras reported heavy rains and landslides. Even Baguio City wasn’t spared from the Flooding. Cagayan Province, on the other hand, reported that nearly half a billion pesos worth of crops were destroyed by the storm. As Kai-Tak quickly moves away, much of Luzon should expect improving weather. The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) has moved with Kai-Tak and is barely affecting the country. Nevertheless, there will still be some occasional rains and thunderstorms particularly along the western portions of Luzon. Visayas on the other hand should expect fair weather with only small chances of thunderstorms especially in the afternoon. Mindanao is also currently enjoying fair weather although rains could move in starting tomorrow courtesy of a weak tropical wave.

Looking across the Pacific, there is really no big threat at the moment although computer models are hinting of a possible cyclone development in the next 2 to 3 days near the Philippine Sea, well east of Luzon. The Tropical Wave east of Mindanao is not expected to intensify although it could bring light rains across Mindanao tomorrow.

Finally, if you are near the coast of Guangdong and Hainan and even in Hong Kong, please continue to monitor the developments. Listen to your official weather bureau and local officials for warnings and instructions for your area. If you have any reports, images and videos, or just comments or questions, please email us at philippineweather@yahoo.com